The Reel Dr. Bob

AUGUST 6, 2020

DEAR FRIENDS:-

QUICK LOOK AT MY FAVORITES OF THE WEEK-

1) CORPUS CHRISTI- Netflix Disc.

2) A MOST BEAUTIFUL THING– Netflix Stream

3) THE LAST DANCE– Netflix- Netflix Stream

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MOVIES I SAW LAST WEEK AT HOME-

1) CORPUS CHRISTI– 2020. Synopsis by Netflix. “As 20-year-old Daniel is serving time in a youth detention center, he finds God. But after being released on parole, Daniel is unable to enter seminary school because of his violent past — prompting him to pose as a parish priest.”

3/11/20- Very good reviews for this drama. TRDB.

7/31/20- I enjoyed this unusual movie from Poland. Great acting by the main character. TRDB. Netflix Disc.

2) A MOST BEAUTIFUL THING- 2020. Synopsis by Netflix. “This uplifting documentary details the story of the first black high-school rowing team in the United States, formed in the 1990s at Chicago’s Manley High School — and which included young men from rival gangs.”

7/31/20- Excellent reviews for this documentary. TRDB. On X-finity On Demand

7/31/20- An excellent documentary that might offer some ideas for police departments around the nation. TRDB.

3) RADIOACTIVE– 2020. Synopsis by Netflix. “This engrossing biopic chronicles the singular path of legendary scientist Marie Curie, who — with her husband, Pierre — achieves global fame and wins a Nobel Prize for the 1903 discovery of the radioactive element radium.”

7/24/20- Weak reviews for this drama but I’ll see it eventually because of my interest in Curie. TRDB.

8/1/20- This movie earned its weak reviews. Skip it. TRDB. Amazon Prime.

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COMING TO NETFLIX NEXT WEEK ON DISC.-

1) A WHITE, WHITE DAY– 2020. Synopsis by Netflix. “After his wife dies in a mysterious car crash, police chief Ingimundur falls into a deep emotional crisis. Torn apart by grief, he grows more bitter and unbalanced, and begins stalking a man who may have had an affair with Ingimundur’s wife.”

4/17/20- Very good reviews. TRDB.

2) HOW TO BUILD A GIRL– 2020. Synopsis by Netflix. “To escape her dull life, teen Johanna Morrigan creates a new identity for herself as Dolly Wilde, an acid-tongued, randy music critic. Taking her act to London, she elbows her way to the top of the rock scene — but her nastiness catches up with her.”

5/8/20– Fairly good reviews for this comedy. TRDB. 

3) LUCKY GRANDMA– 2020. Synopsis by Netflix. “Ornery Grandma Wong isn’t about to give up her independence and move in with her son. Taking a fortuneteller’s advice, she heads to Atlantic City and goes all in at a casino — but when her escapade goes awry, she ends up in the midst of a gang war.”

5/22/20- Very good reviews! TRDB.

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NEW STREAMABLE MOVIES-

1) GORDON LIGHTFOOT: IF YOU COULD READ MY MIND– 2020. Synopsis by Rotten Tomatoes. “Gordon Lightfoot: If You Could Read My Mind is an exploration of the career, music, and influence of legendary Canadian musical icon Gordon Lightfoot. With unprecedented access to the artist, the documentary follows Lightfoot’s evolution from Christian choirboy to troubled troubadour to international star and beloved Canadian icon.”

7/30/20- Excellent reviews for this documentary. TRDB.

2) THE HATER- 2020. Synopsis by Rotten Tomatoes. “A duplicitous young man finds success in the dark world of social media smear tactics – but his virtual vitriol soon has violent real-life consequences.”.

7/30/20- Fair reviews at best for this movie from Poland. TRDB. On Netflix.

3) THE FIGHT– 2020. Synopsis by Netflix. “President Donald Trump’s 2016 election and persistent attacks on civil rights have ushered in new challenges for American Civil Liberties Union attorneys. This absorbing documentary centers on four key legal battles confronting them.”

7/31/20- Excellent reviews for this documentary. TRDB. On Google Play, Amazon Prime and others

4) REBUILDING PARADISE-2020. Synopsis by Netflix. “Claiming 85 lives and laying to waste the town of Paradise, California, the 2018 Camp Fire was the most destructive blaze in the state’s history. Director Ron Howard, who has ties to the community, follows a group of refugees as they try to rebuild.”

7/31/20- Excellent reviews for this documentary by Ron Howard. TRDB. On some virtual platforms.

5) THE SHADOW OF VIOLENCE– 2020. Synopsis by Netflix. “With his boxing career behind him, Douglas Armstrong ekes out a living as an enforcer for the drug-dealing Devers clan in his depressed Irish community. But a conflict emerges just as he begins to make headway with his autistic young son.”

7/31/20- Excellent reviews for this drama. TRDB. In theaters Only! ? I don’t know where.

6) A MOST BEAUTIFUL THING- 2020. Synopsis by Netflix. “This uplifting documentary details the story of the first black high-school rowing team in the United States, formed in the 1990s at Chicago’s Manley High School — and which included young men from rival gangs.”

7/31/20- Excellent reviews for this documentary. TRDB. On X-finity On Demand

7/31/20- An excellent documentary that might offer some ideas for police departments around the nation. TRDB.

7) THE CUBAN– 2020. Synopsis by Rotten Tomatoes. “Academy award winner Louis Gossett Jr. expands his repertoire of exceptional performances in the role of Luis, an elderly Cuban musician who is brought out of his shell by his care worker, a young Afghan immigrant named Mina. Mina’s attempts to get through to Luis, even just to feed him, are futile. That is, until she discovers the music. A poster of Benny More inspires Mina to hum a jazz tune that, to her surprise, ignites a spark inside him. As each day passes the music awakens Luis more and more until the colorful world of his past becomes vibrant and real again. Mina comes into her own as she gets to know him and their friendship blossoms.”

7/31/20- Fair reviews for this drama. TRDB. On Virtual cinemas

8) SUMMERLAND–  2020. Synopsis by Netflix. “Nursing a broken heart, Alice isolates herself in her coastal cottage in Southern England to work on her thesis as World War II rages across Europe. But her seclusion ends when she’s forced to take in young Frank, an evacuee from London.”

7/31/20- Fair reviews for this drama BUT it sounds good to me. TRDB. Prime Video

9) A GIRL MISSING– 2020. Synopsis by Netflix. “Home-care nurse Ichiko has tended to the matriarch of the Oishos clan for years, growing ever closer to the family. But that relationship is imperiled when the clan’s teen daughter Saki is kidnapped, and Ichiko’s nephew turns out to be the culprit.”

7/31/20- Mixed reviews– more OK. TRDB. On Virtual Cinemas

10) SERIOUSLY SINGLE– Very good review from the NY Times- others not so good.

11) HOST- Horror and I’m not interested.

12) THE LAST DANCE– 2020. Synopsis by Netflix. “A compelling and comprehensive portrait of one of basketball’s great teams, The Last Dance‘s blend of archival footage and candid interviews confirms there’s nobody quite like Mike or the team he led to victory.

 8/5/20- Great reviews and I’ve watched the first 5 of 10 episodes and I liked it very much. TRDB.